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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#342426: Dec 7th 2020 at 11:04:10 PM

I haven't seen any pushback from the Democrats I follow.

Also, holy cow, counting the Acting Secretaries, Trump has had more Secretaries of Defense than he's had years in office.

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#342427: Dec 7th 2020 at 11:32:16 PM

I don’t think there’s major pushback, but the rule about generals having to be retired for a certain time before becoming secretary of defence is there for a reason, the fact that it’s going to be waived two administrations in a row is a concerning sign for civilian control of the military.

This is before we touch on the military-industrial-complex issues that emerge from a general retiring, getting a position at a major defence contractor, then becoming secretary of defence.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#342428: Dec 8th 2020 at 1:03:40 AM

Remember when I mentioned Matthew McConaughey wanted to run for Texas governor and people were wondering what his politics were like? Well, it looks like at best he's a bothsider.

Matthew Mc Conaughey is doing his best to demonstrate during his current, seemingly unending book promotional tour that he is different from other Hollywood stars who discuss politics.

The "aggressively centrist" Mc Conaughey, 51, decried "far left" Hollywood political types during a podcast interview with British comedian Russell Brand.

"There are a lot (of people) on that illiberal left that absolutely condescend, patronize, and are arrogant towards that other 50 percent," said the Oscar-winning actor while promoting his memoir "Greenlights."

Brand brought up politics when asking about societal "condemnation and criticism" of "ordinary working people."

There's "kind of an offhandedness, of like, ‘Oh, they’re dumb, they’re voting for Brexit, they’re voting for Trump.’ I don’t like it, and I don’t like to hear it," said Brand.

Mc Conaughey, who has expressed a budding interest in politics during the book tour, says the attitude of the "far left" prevents the two opposing political sides from coming together. He listed the Hollywood reaction to Donald Trump's 2016 surprise presidential election win as an example of this attitude.

"Many people, I’m sure you saw it, in our industry, when Trump was voted in four years ago, they were in denial that it was real. Some of them were in absolute denial," Mc Conaughey said.

On the other hand, Mc Conaughey pointed out that many on "the right" do not believe president-elect Joe Biden won the November election.

"It looks like Biden’s our guy," Mc Conaughey said. "Now you’ve got the right that’s in denial, because their side has fake news. And I understand, they’ve been fed fake news. No one knows what the hell to believe, right? So they’re putting down their last bastion of defense."

Mc Conaughey continued to advocate finding the middle-of-the-road approach, since the "other two sides of the political aisle are so far apart."

He said unnecessary comments and language from the left cause resentment to built. The offended conservative parties "look at us in Hollywood going, 'Another celebrity over there, West Coasters and the elites in the northeast.' "

"The left will have to understand the science of 'meet you in the middle.'" Mc Conaughey said.

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#342429: Dec 8th 2020 at 1:15:39 AM

I reiterate what I said then: Democrats in Texas have a number of excellent County Judges/Representatives/state legislators, even candidates who ran this year and didn't quite make it. They're not lacking for talent, so please let's not give a random celebrity a platform.

Imca (Veteran)
#342430: Dec 8th 2020 at 1:31:13 AM

@Freedom Index: It immediately lost me with Japan near the top in with a 96, riiiight... the nation where you can put quota's on female medical students because "there just going to get married and not be doctors", where marital rape was legal until the last decade, still unpunished... and where I still would not have been legally able to marry my partner is that high up on the list?

Whatever its judging on its civil liberties methodology is deeply flawed.

Like seriously for all the problems I have here, at least the glass ceiling is made of glass not concrete, and I can get married to my partner if I wish...

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#342431: Dec 8th 2020 at 1:33:23 AM

Don't forget the way Burakumin are still treated like almost literal garbage despite the caste system being officially not a thing anymore in Japan.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Imca (Veteran)
#342432: Dec 8th 2020 at 1:37:57 AM

Damn your right, sorry about that I was more focused on the ones that affect me personally....

But yea, you got that too, though that's more of a thing in the kansai region, it doesn't excuse it, and should cause lower then a 96.

Edited by Imca on Dec 8th 2020 at 1:39:18 AM

3of4 Just a harmless giant from a foreign land. from Five Seconds in the Future. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
Just a harmless giant from a foreign land.
#342433: Dec 8th 2020 at 1:41:54 AM

@Mc Conaghey How's "Peace in Our Time" for a campaign slogan cause that's he's basically castigating the "left" for not appeasing the right

Edited by 3of4 on Dec 8th 2020 at 10:42:29 AM

"You can reply to this Message!"
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#342434: Dec 8th 2020 at 2:28:21 AM

I don't think that DeSantis is "stupid" in the sense that such things will politically harm him. As far as I can see Republican politicians have never faced any negative consequence for such incompetence down there.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#342435: Dec 8th 2020 at 5:15:46 AM

Remember when the GOP began to talk about fiscal responsibility and worry about the debt again? Here's another thing they've suddenly decided matters: experience

Bloomberg: Biden HHS Pick Faces Senate Fight as GOP Hits His Experience

President-elect Joe Biden's pick of California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to lead the Health and Human Services department gives him a fierce defender of Democratic causes but one without hands-on experience leading a massive federal agency in the middle of an unprecedented public health crisis.

But that may not be enough direct experience to satisfy the GOP-led Senate, which must confirm his nomination.


"I'm not sure what his Health and Human Services credentials are," said Senator John Cornyn of Texas. ... Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas called Becerra a "disaster" who was unqualified to lead the agency.

Ah yes, who can forget the famously well-qualified Trump-appointees, Ben Carson, Rick Perry, and Betsy DeVos.

I did think he had less direct experience than some of the other names in the running, but the fact that the GOP is harping on this after the past four years...

Side note: One thing I hadn't known about AG Becerra is that apparently he's a supporter of Medicare for All and was a cosponsor of the bill when serving in the House.

Edited by nova92 on Dec 8th 2020 at 5:19:26 AM

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#342436: Dec 8th 2020 at 5:37:31 AM

I've long since reached the point where my first instinct to hearing anything from the GOP is to call bullshit.

So far I have yet to be proven wrong.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Beatman1 Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Gone fishin'
#342437: Dec 8th 2020 at 5:52:21 AM

They’re bald face hypocrites, but as long as Mitch can yell “socialism!” nothing will ever change.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#342438: Dec 8th 2020 at 5:53:19 AM

I shouldn't be but am terrified of this Safe Harbor Day. I want the Supreme Court to shut Trump down but I know so many people who think they'll support the Orange Furher.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
clemont107 Mega Togekiss?! from Land of Missed Opportunities (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
Mega Togekiss?!
#342439: Dec 8th 2020 at 6:03:09 AM

[up]Maybe Demon Justice Karen Barrett dreams of making out with Trump...

"Mr. Trump will see you now."

"Wow, no Mega Togekiss in Legends Z-A. Or any non-Froslass new Sinnoh Mega Evolutions. Round of applause, everybody." - Dawn
nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#342440: Dec 8th 2020 at 6:04:28 AM

For context, here's what Safe Harbor Day is, from AP News:

Other than Wisconsin, every state appears to have met a deadline in federal law that essentially means Congress has to accept the electoral votes that will be cast next week and sent to the Capitol for counting on Jan. 6. Those votes will elect Joe Biden as the country's next president.

It's called a safe harbor provision because it's a kind of insurance policy by which a state can lock in its electoral votes by finishing up certification of the results and any state court legal challenges by a congressionally imposed deadline, which this year is Tuesday.

"What federal law requires is that if a state has completed its post-election certification by Dec. 8, Congress is required to accept those results," said Rebecca Green, an election law professor at the William & Mary law school in Williamsburg, Virginia.


Most of his campaign's lawsuits in state courts challenging those Biden victories have been dismissed, with the exception of Wisconsin, where a hearing is scheduled for later this week.

Like the others, the lawsuit does not appear to have much chance of succeeding, but because it was filed in accordance with state law procedures for challenging election results, "it's looking to me like Wisconsin is going to miss the safe harbor deadline because of that," said Edward Foley, a professor of election law at Ohio State University’s Moritz School of Law.


But lawmakers in Washington could theoretically second-guess the slate of electors from any state that misses the Dec. 8 deadline, Foley said.

EDIT: It looks like every other state has already certified its election results, meaning that Congress is obligated to accept them. Wisconsin might miss the deadline, but the lawsuit isn't likely to go anywhere, no Senator has signed on to challenging electoral votes, and Biden still wins without Wisconsin.

Edited by nova92 on Dec 8th 2020 at 6:07:12 AM

Xopher001 Since: Jul, 2012
#342441: Dec 8th 2020 at 6:06:59 AM

Wisconsin only has 10 electoral votes, IIRC, so even in the worst-case scenario where the votes are not certified and second-guessed by Congress, the results won't really change [nja]

Edited by Xopher001 on Dec 8th 2020 at 4:07:24 PM

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#342442: Dec 8th 2020 at 6:35:41 AM

Republican Senators are irredeemably evil and hypocritical, news at 11.

Anyhow, since I want to discuss something a bit lighter than just the millionth iteration of the line above, Melania Trump has unveiled the new tennis pavilion on the White House, but the reception is decidedly mixed:

Her Christmas lighting while not as unnatural as that of the preceding years, is also gathering some criticism: "How fitting the urns of covid Christmas #MelaniaHatesChristmas"

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
clemont107 Mega Togekiss?! from Land of Missed Opportunities (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
Mega Togekiss?!
#342443: Dec 8th 2020 at 6:44:32 AM

[up]IIRC she said something like "Fuck Christmas" in a private recording with someone else and it leaked out. So she feigns being all positive about Christmas and stuff but in reality she couldn't care less.

"Wow, no Mega Togekiss in Legends Z-A. Or any non-Froslass new Sinnoh Mega Evolutions. Round of applause, everybody." - Dawn
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#342444: Dec 8th 2020 at 6:50:07 AM

I think the context was something else with that, like frustration at people getting in her case about her own Trumpy or Trumpy-semming behavior.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#342445: Dec 8th 2020 at 6:52:20 AM

Ted Cruz says he'll give the opening arguments to the SCOTUS case that Alitto is ruling on today whether to overhear a case to overturn the election.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#342446: Dec 8th 2020 at 6:53:14 AM

[up] Could you provide more detail? There are a bunch of lawsuits out there.


[down]

I slot her in the same category as Tiffany Trump - doesn't appear to be that great a person in her own right, but ultimately pretty irrelevant in the big scheme of things.

Edited by nova92 on Dec 8th 2020 at 6:55:54 AM

Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#342447: Dec 8th 2020 at 6:53:43 AM

Melania is weird. She doesn't strike me as interested in anything but herself and Barron, and her best attempts to do anything "presidential" come, at best, as half assed. Her frustration is understandable. And then there's the moments she does some incredibly stupid Trumplite thing, so hlfassedly I also wonder if she's not just having that stuff posted for her.

Ultimately, however, she is still an acive participant.

Frankly she doesn't seem like someone worth wasting energy or thoughts on. Which I am aware describes the entire Trump faily, but unlike them she doesn't have that much power or interest in legislation.

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
ShadowWingLG Since: Dec, 2013
#342448: Dec 8th 2020 at 6:57:05 AM

Its been PAINFULLY obvious she never wanted to be First Lady and didn't want the responsibility of being First Lady. Pretty sure she was shocked when Michelle told her that being First Lady was WAY more than looking good in a slinky dress as arm candy, and ALLL the things she needs to do like run the front facing/public side of the White House and being an actual HOSTESS for political events.

Many people were luke warm on her until she destroyed the Rose Garden. I'm hoping that somebody salvaged cuttings from those bushes and the Biden's start trying to restore it since the 'improvements' are not doing well.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#342449: Dec 8th 2020 at 7:04:10 AM

Let's not forget she's a racist (pushed the Birther lie).

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#342450: Dec 8th 2020 at 7:06:35 AM

Moving to next page

Edited by nova92 on Dec 8th 2020 at 7:08:59 AM


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